Magical Mathematics
reveals the secrets of amazing, fun-to-perform card tricks--and the
profound mathematical ideas behind them--that will astound even the most
accomplished magician. Persi Diaconis and Ron Graham provide easy,
step-by-step instructions for each trick, explaining how to set up the
effect and offering tips on what to say and do while performing it. Each
card trick introduces a new mathematical idea, and varying the tricks
in turn takes readers to the very threshold of today's mathematical
knowledge. For example, the Gilbreath Principle--a fantastic effect
where the cards remain in control despite being shuffled--is found to
share an intimate connection with the Mandelbrot set. Other card tricks
link to the mathematical secrets of combinatorics, graph theory, number
theory, topology, the Riemann hypothesis, and even Fermat's last
theorem.

Diaconis and Graham are mathematicians as well as
skilled performers with decades of professional experience between them.
In this book they share a wealth of conjuring lore, including some
closely guarded secrets of legendary magicians. Magical Mathematics covers the mathematics of juggling and shows how the I Ching
connects to the history of probability and magic tricks both old and
new. It tells the stories--and reveals the best tricks--of the eccentric
and brilliant inventors of mathematical magic. Magical Mathematics
exposes old gambling secrets through the mathematics of shuffling
cards, explains the classic street-gambling scam of three-card monte,
traces the history of mathematical magic back to the thirteenth century
and the oldest mathematical trick--and much more.

Persi Diaconis is professor of mathematics and statistics at Stanford University and a professional magician. Ron Graham is professor of mathematics and computer science at the University of California, San Diego, and a professional juggler.